Got this one on a whim after hatching a couple hundred Fennikin eggs. This is my first major writing in years, so I'm really hoping for some feedback and criticism. Thanks, and enjoy!
...
Braixen shifts uncomfortably on the bench, impatiently awaiting his master's return. He had been promised a special treat today, and although his master had only been gone for a few minutes, it may as well have been hours. It was Saturday evening, and Fletchlings could be heard chirping among the trees. It made the pokemon's ears twitch, facing any sudden noise as his gaze darted back and forth. Every so often he would remove the maple twig he kept in his tail and fidget with it, at times bending it to a dangerous degree. What was taking him so long? Already he was starting to worry. Braixen didn't like being alone, and he hated not being with his master. This was something of a burden to the human at times, but nothing that he claimed he couldn't handle. Of course, this didn't help Braixen's current dilemma. Soon the poor pokemon was chewing on the end of his stick anxiously. Worried thoughts began to creep up on the fox.
"Where is he? What if he got lost?" Braixen's teeth leave soft marks visible on the bark as more thoughts pop into his mind. "What if he-"
"You know if you keep that up, you'll be too full to enjoy what I got you."
A strong voice greets Braixen like water to a desert, and he whips around to meet the master he loves. Thrilled, he almost jumps over the bench into his arms. There he stands, his shaggy brown hair just barely creeping to the tops of his eyes, which are deep but give Braixen a soft gaze. Brown like his hair, they stare down at the little fox, who's little display of excitement spreads a grin across his face, accentuating his high cheeks and strong jaw. Braixen stands and leans on the back of the bench, beaming up at his master and letting several moments pass without thinking of how silly he looks. Eventually the man shakes his head and chuckles, deciding to move on before Braixen realizes he should be upset with his master for being left alone. He raises his hand and offers Braixen an imposingly large chocolate dipped ice cream cone.
"Here, I got one for each of us" he says.
Braixen stares wide eyed at the icy monstrosity before him. Human food was not new to him, but he had never tasted ice cream before, not to mention a treat so big! Cautiously he reaches out, and grabs the cone with both paws. Bringing it in slowly he keeps his eyes on it, as if at any moment it might detonate. The man laughs this time and sits down next to his pokemon. Braixen turns to sit next to him, still holding the cone in awe, unsure of how to deal with such a challenge. The ice cream alone is nearly as tall as his head! The man notices this dilemma and scratches the back of Braixen's neck with a smile.
"Sorry it's so big," he says while sitting down, "there was a deal if I got two large cones. If it's too much I'll finish it for you."
Braixen leans into his master's skilled hand happily and looks up at him. Bright eyes show their affection as he nuzzles closer, leaning against him. The man takes a bite of his cone, cracking the hard chocolate shell with his teeth before lifting away some of the vanilla ice cream inside. Following his master's lead, Braixen does the same. A rush of cream escapes from it's chocolate prison and reaches his tongue, sending a new sensation of flavor to the pokemon. It's amazing! Braixen doubles down on the cone, mercilessly digging into the frosty goodness while his hands work awkwardly trying to hold onto it.
The man laughs again. "Enjoying yourself Braixen?"
"Brai!" The pokemon cheers happily before returning to his efforts, for the moment ignoring decency as sugary brown and white spots stick to his muzzle. The man sighs and shakes his head, Braixen is getting more on his fur then in his mouth! Putting down his cone and drawing a napkin from his pocket he stops Braixen by lightly catching his chin before starting to wipe his fur clean. Braixen squirms a bit in protest, disliking being treated like a child and wanting to keep enjoying his ice cream. His master however, will not have his pokemon desert his manners for the sake of dessert. Working quickly he clears any stains that dare ruin his pokemon's fur. Before letting go he notices how Braixen's paws are struggling to hold into the cone. Grabbing them, he adjusts the grip.
"Here, like this" he says, "I guess you still got some paw practice to do yet eh Braixen?"
The pokemon blushes under his fur at this touch and remark, pulling back and curling up a bit while looking away. You see, Braixen had only just evolved. Not even a week ago he was still a Fennikin, running about on all fours with abundant energy. This new body was much different from his old one, and he was still adjusting to it. One of the biggest challenges he faced was learning how to use his new found "hands". The first day he could barely hold on to the maple branch that was given to him by his master. He spent days practising, twirling it around his fingers while walking on uneasy feat until he could reach, grab and hold with confidence. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, the pokemon had a habit of dropping things. Already his butterfingers have claimed three cups, two plates, and a particularly expensive crystal candlestick. That one earned him a good scolding about not touching things that where not his.
The poor pokemon resented such things, even if he had them coming. Because of this Braixen was still uneasy about his paws, and any remark about it often gained such a response. Seeing this, his master smirked, and after a pat on the head he ruffled his pokemon's fur a bit.
"Sorry boy. Tell you what, after we finish we can go play some catch. How's that sound?"
Braixen tries not to show it, but that sounds fantastic. He loves catch, more than he could have ever loved fetch. The part he loves most is the look of pride he gets from his master when he pulls of a particularly difficult catch or throw. The smile on the pokemon's face told the man that it sounded great. He decided to make the most of this offer.
"There's one condition though" the man continued, despite having already sealed the deal "you need to eat slowly and without making a mess, alright?"
Braixen grumbles, but when he looks up and sees the stern look of his master he nods his head begrudgingly. For a time they eat in silence, while Braixen's thoughts start to go off. He never understood his master's obsession with decency, especially on the pokemon's part. Even as a Fennikin his master enforced strict teachings on manners. He didn't hate his master for it, but not knowing why he was so adamant about it often annoyed him. Perhaps it was one of his ways of showing affection. Braixen froze at the thought of affection, his face getting flustered once again.
The evolution did more than make the pokemon bipedal. His knowledge, comprehension and understanding of all things increased as well. Before, if his master told him they where going for a ride in the car, his mind bounded endlessly in ignorance. There was no assumption of where they where going, no consideration of what they would be doing. There was only the excitement in knowing that the loud and fast machine would eventually lead to some fun activity, and sometimes a nightmarish trip to the poke vet. Now, Braixen could take the time to actively think about what was happening. Like today for example, when his master told him they would be going for a special treat downtown. Now understanding the concept of distance, Braixen knew they would be taking the car before it was even mentioned. Comprehending time and his surroundings, Braixen realized they would likely be going to the park, as it was still a bright and sunny evening. It changed the way Briaxen viewed the world, and it also changed the way he saw his master.
Now, affection went deeper that just contact. Braixen now understood his masters emotions, but not so much his own. When his master first hugged him after he evolved, there was more than the fuzzy feeling of being embraced. Braixen felt uncertainty with this new form, but in the arms of his master he could feel his love, his strong beating heart, and his tremendous pride. Braixen looks up, and his master looks down at him. His handsome face is calm and accepting, loving the pokemon for all he is. A warmness grows inside the pokemon, and for a moment, it's all Braixen can feel. Nothing, not manners or ice cream, mattered more than seeing his master look at him. Braixen was experiencing very new feelings that he had yet to fully understand. New feelings for his master, and of just how much he loves him.